Motor powered fishing boats appeared at the beginning of the 20th century. The first Scottish motor powered fishing boat was ‘Crystal River’ of Wick, with Eyemouth’s ‘Maggie Jane’s’ the second. Early fishing boat engines cost from £70 to £100. By 1919, 23% of the Scottish fishing fleet was motor powered.

This advertisement within the ‘Fish Trades Gazette’ shows a Kelvin engine. It said that 470 British fishing boats were powered by Kelvin engines, and that they were powered from 6 to 60 horse power. These engines could be fuelled by either petrol or paraffin.

In 1914, 60 horse power was quite a powerful engine. Kelvin engines were one of the most successful fishing boat engines of the early 20C. Kelvin engines were made by the Bergius Launch & Engine Company in Glasgow. Walter Bergius started the company in 1906 after installing a motor car engine into a rowing boat.

It is that time of year again – it is like a scene from Mad Max with people checking in their weapons before entering the Thunderdome – That’s right it is the River Kelvin Angling Association AGM 2010.

It will be held on the 11th February at 7pm at Kessington Hall, 58 Milngavie Road Bearsden. Post Code, G61 2DP.

Kessington Hall is the large red sandstone building located on the right hand side of Milngavie Road (A81) about 300 metres to the North of Canniesburn toll when driving towards Milngavie. At the first set of traffic lights (opposite the petrol station) turn right into Kessington Road where there is parking. Bus services stop at Kessington Road next the Hall. Hillfoot Train Station is about 300 metres North of the Hall on Milngavie Road.

Driving home from work a van was right up my ass – obviously in a hurry with places to go – I moved out of the way and it zoomed past me – it was the Loch Lomond Angling Improvement Association bailiff van – even though they zoomed past they still had to wait at the lights meaning I could take a quick picture with my camera phone earning them the honour of being the 2nd in my weekly tenuous fishing photo project .

(If Mr.Brady is reading this how about a free permit for 2010 for almost running me off the road)

I will be blunt – when I started this project I was thinking more about pictures of pubs with the name Kelvin in them however you guys have surpassed yourselves.

I threw you a bone with Star Trek when I posted about this the other day however Jim took it a step further and actually got me the photo of the Starship Kelvin.

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Meanwhile Stephen posted a rather nice picture of himself sitting outside his halls of residence approx 20 years ago .

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A fascinating fact was submitted by none other than local legend Paul Young (the actor who fishes not the singer) who states :

The cricket Test Match that is being played between England and South Africa in Cape Town is being played at Newlands Cricket Ground, the two ends of the ground being the Wynberg End and the Kelvin Grove End.

I even found the website which shows off their strong links with the Kelvin. The Kelvin (for those who live abroad) runs through Kelvingrove Park and is an legendary area for bizarre people to hang around bushes area of splendour.

Thanks for the input guys – I am looking forward to collecting more examples of Kelvinography.

This was a Christmas present from my Sister n’ Law – as you can see she put a lot of effort into wrapping the contents – to be honest I am glad – I would rather someone spent the extra couple of pounds on themselves rather than wrapping paper – in this case they spent the extra couple of pounds on the contents of the envelope – a selection of mighty fine deer hair from none other than Steve Cooper – It was probably the only fishy present I received from a relative and it is definitely the best one.

The first project is a lone gunman affair however the second one will require your help.

Project One – 52 Tenuous Fishing Photos

I am going to produce a set of photos which remind me of fishing but which only have a tenuous link to the finer art. You see, the thing is, I often daydream meditate about fishing when doing something totally unrelated – for example being in a car wash might makes me think of a roaring river –you get the general idea. Why 52? Because there are 52 weeks in the year and one tenuous photo per week with a short explanation should be enough or anyone. To be fair – a walk in the park where I may see a glimpse of the river may qualify.

Project Two – Kelvinography

I want to compile a database come photo gallery of things that are named after The River Kelvin – Kelvinography if you will (many thanks to the person who came up with that wee gem).

There are quite literally hundreds (more probably dozens) of shops and services out there that have Kelvin in their name. Lord Kelvin was named after the river and he named his famous temperature scale after the river – I was watching the new Star Trek film the other day and what was the name of the first space ship? – that’s right “The Kelvin” – it just goes to show you just how widely travelled our wee urban river is – I bet a lot of people do not realise just how the name “Kelvin” came about – I mean in the USA when they are teaching about the Kelvin temperature scale in school do they say its named after a funky wee trout stream – I betcha they don’t!

I am going to create a special place for the gallery (probably a page on here somewhere) and I need your help – hey you guys in the places other than Glasgow don’t you be running away as I want you to be part of this as well.

Pretty much everyone carries a camera phone around with them these days so this should be pretty easy – if you see something with the name Kelvin take a picture of it and send me it. I don’t need the photo to be absolutely great quality – just make sure it is not blurry and maybe not too squint – if you cannot get the photo off your camera and you are willing to text me it contact me and I will give you my number.

I know some stairs that lead to a path – you get to the stairs via a busy wee side street. When I was much younger I used to hang around that street corner getting up to mischief. Now pulling my waders on beside my car feels like a bit of mischief – especially if it is a stolen couple of hours.

The stairs lead down a path between bushes and trees – the stairs have been there for many years – as have the bushes and trees – the stairs lead to a wider path which ultimately leads to the destination.

Sometimes you pass dog walkers and joggers – sometimes young mums struggle up them with a pram – you do not meet hoards of people just the occasional other traveller.

I suppose the stairs have two destinations – out and in – out to the world above and in to the world below. You see these stairs take you from what is an urban environment and transport you to a green and blue strip that cuts through the city.

If you used these stairs you would look forward to them – as you use them you feel a change coming over you – a peace settling over you which only the destination can bring.

People will smile at you as you use the stairs – not because of your attire (and some people will smile at you because of that #grin#) but because you will have a smile on your face as you walk the stairs and it is nice to reciprocate.

The stairs are good and solid – long and not steep – I look forward to walking down them in the New Year and am glad you guys will be joining me once more.

Thanks goodness – December 21st is upon us – what does that mean? Well it means that finally we are on the up boys – that’s right the days will start getting longer as Spring is now approaching – you see 21st December is the Winter Solstice when we trout anglers can start looking forward again (unless you are a masochistic mad man who likes fishing for grayling) instead of moping around the house looking at all the undone DIY jobs that you are saving up for the end of time. Regular readers may have noticed a slight drop off in posts over the last month or so – there are several reasons for this: